Some people are hardy souls, surfing year-round in challenging conditions. The rest of us are only starting to think about returning to the water now, with the advent of summer.

If you have a surf trip planned, or are just hitting the waves at your local break, you’re going to need some good sun protection. As a pale, freckled type myself, sun care is a priority. Sunburn never looks good, and skin cancer is a very real and serious concern.

If you’re an Outlander fan with even the slightest interest in the show’s costumes, Terry Dresbach’s blog is required reading.

She’s costume designer for the show, and through her blog she illuminates the huge amounts of work required to pull the costumes together, and the compromises needed to balance historical accuracy with the practicalities of filming.

As well as insights into her life and work in Scotland, her blog features tons of photos, sketches, design concepts and research. There’s also a great post where she answers a criticism about authenticity and the validity of her research. Read More

I just stumbled across this piece from November 2013 on The Guardian’s fashion blog. It has some interesting advice from Jenna Lyons, creative director of the iconic American brand J. Crew.

My favourite: “But we’re not about clothes you buy because they’re on trend, we’re
about beautiful pieces you buy because you want to wear them every day.”

Trends are great – especially when you’re a teenager and want to fit in. But it’s so much more interesting to define and express your own personal style, and to do that, you’ll want to build your own collection of beautiful pieces.

If you’ve visited New York before, you’ve probably already shopped till you dropped and seen all the sights Manhattan has to offer. Maybe a trip a little further afield is in order – to Brooklyn, the borough of kings. There’s no shortage of attractions, and many have the added advantage of being easy on the pocket.

Among them is Green-Wood Cemetery, which once rivalled Niagara Falls as one of North America’s most popular places to visit. While it may not have the same spooky charms as London’s famous Highgate Cemetery, its beautiful landscaping inspired the later developments of Central Park and Brooklyn’s own Prospect Park. Read More